This all started when a lovely 1/72 Airfix MiG-15 showed up (thanks a million, hamsterman!). Few things are more classic than one of these on the original card.
You've really got to hand it to the good folks at Airfix for some stunning artwork. Here's a closer look at mine.
Wow a whole dollar! 40-odd (and my have they been odd) years ago when I was a lad, this was a month's allowance. Back then, the simpler, domestic airplane kits went for 69 cents so $1 for a posh import like this seems about right.
And in case something in your pricey from-across-the-pond kit isn't right, Airfix is at the ready with outstanding customer service.
The other side has a paint guide which is very well done but I disregarded it anyway.
On to the instructions! Perhaps I should have looked at these
before I built the kit...
One thing I did look at was the nose of this baby and a rough piece of "rear engine cylinders molded to the firewall" filled the gap.
Seemed well tidy behind the intake from another Airfix classic, their E.E. Lightning.
If I'd have gotten luckier with a clean finish, I'd have been tempted to keep it like this.
I almost forgot to mention the other small mod which was replacing the under-sized landing gear doors with new ones cut from scrap plastic.
Here's how it all looked before paint.
Speaking of paint, the old hairy stick was trotted out and loaded up with a custom mix that started life as Model Masters Medium Gray acrylic. The canopy was tinted on the inside in a nicely sinister Flat Black.
The intake ring and fake fan in back were painted Polly Scale Silver. The burner can was done with Model Masters Jet Exhaust.
Decals were a mix of spares which were bulked up from another timely mailing from my good friend.
It took me about four days to build this model and it was a lot of fun.
One thing I love about these kits is how they look on the included stand. Talk about a great value!
Oh before I forget, here's a couple of "money shots" (U.S. penny for scale, sorry was out of rubles):
I'd like to thank Bill for his kindness in sending the MiG and Lightning kits and also for raiding his stash of red stars for me. I couldn't have done it without you!
I'd also like to thank Comrade Commissar Jello for moderating this GB and the rest of you who are playing along or just having a look.
I hope you enjoyed the MiG-15 prototype X and reading a little more forgotten aircraft history even if it lacks the (jet) power to convince the so-called "experts".
Brian da Basher